Closure means for filling openings



a J. w. GRAY CLosURE MEANS FOR FILLING oPENINGs Filed Nov. 18, 1925 dVV. 6524)/ INVENTOR BY QZ a ,v

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES W. GRAY,VOF KEITHSBURG, ILLINOS.

oLosURE MEANS Fon FILLING OPENINGS. Y'

Application led November Myl invention relates more especially toautomatically closing covers for the filling openings of gasoline tanksbut is ynot necessarily limited to such use.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a cap for a fillingopening which will automatically close said opening when released; toprovide a closure of the type indicated which willprevent the escape ofgasoline from a tank in which the same is kept; to provide vent meansfor such a tank which will permit air to pass from the outside into theinterior Vof the tank and yet will prevent any water from passingthrough the venting opening into the tank;'to pro vide an improved meansfor closinff a cap of the kind referred to;` and such furthery objects,advantages and capabilities as will hereafter more fully appear andasare inherent in the construction disclosed.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing and, whileI have'shown thereina preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire thesame to be understood as illustrative onlyand not as limiting saidinvention.

In the drawing annexed hereto and forin-V ing a part hereof, Fig. l isan' elevation showinga portion of a gasoline tank in dotted lines andthe position of my invenfL tion with relation thereto; Fig. 2 is anenlarged vertical ysectional elevation of my new yclosure means inclosed position; and Fig. 3 is a lateral elevation corresponding to Fig.2 but with'the closure means 1n open liange is screw-threaded internallythe con-v struction of the lower lportion'of my device will have to becorrespondingly Vmodified in order to be adapted thereto'. Secured tothis upstanding flange'of the tank is a ring 2 having its lower endl 3screw-threaded for attachment to the flange of the tank. lt will ofcourse be understood that ifV the. tank llange is'designed forapplication of 'a ton-Y struction using la'bayonet slot connection orother equivalent device, this portion of my 18, 19'25. Serial No.69,832.

Vthe ring 2 so that gasoline can not escape through the threads orequivalent connecting means joining this device to the tank. The ring2jis undercut, reamed, or spunv outwardly at 7. so that a groove isformed in which the gasket 8 may rest and be prevented from accidentalremoval through the fillino opening.v This vgasket is pressed tightly tothe flange by the cap to be presently described. v

rlil-Xten'ding laterally fromt-he ring 2 is a projection 9 which ispreferably hollow for ythe reception ofl the end 10` of the lever 11which is pivoted at `12. Afrivet, lbolt, or other suitable rigidsecuring means 13 eX- tends through the hollow' interior of theprojection 9 and to this is secured one end of the resilient'means 14Cshown as a coil spring. From its pivot 12 thelever 11 rises and then isbent laterally and downwardly in a vgoose neck 15, being bent laterallyagain at 16 to` server as holding means for a cap 17. This cap has itsedge turned downwardly as shown at 18 to surround the upper edge of 4thering 2 but fits around the same 'loosely shown in the present instanceas a bolt hav, Ving its head external to the cap, though Vit may, ifdesired, be reversed and the screw! threaded end ot the' holtinay engagea correspondingly threaded opening inthe lever Aso lllll 1l. Also, it ispossible to use a` rivet in this location if ldesired butr thepresentfconstruction isV deemed preferable.

A protu'berance fin the forni of Va cup 20 projects .inwardly from theinner face'of thev -cap 17 'and at its lower end presses against theVgasket 8 to hold the sainein tight engagement witlrthe liangeff)whereby' o'- line is substantially preventedr from e..Y an ing betweenthe flange and the protuberance the protuberance to make it possible forthe gasoline to splash over the top of the ring. This means isconsidered a very effective means for doing away with the customary lossof gasoline due to the splash thereof in the tank. Vent openings 2l and22 permit air to pass from the exterior otl the tank to the interiorthereoil as needed to permit the gasoline to be fed into the carburetorof an engine. lt will be noticed that these openings are So 'tar apartthat it will be impossible for gasoline to collect in the cup to asufficient amount so that it will escape through the opening 22 and overthe top of the ring Q. rlvhere is enough clearance between the cap andthe top edge of the ring 2 so that all the needed air may pass'inbetween the cap and ring but the downwardly extending flange 18 willprevent rain and road splashing from entering into the ring and fromthere into the tank. rlhis protection of the vent opening is consideredsubstantially equally important with the location of the sealing jointbetween the parts 20, 8 and 5 remote from the top of the ring 2.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that this construction is adaptedfor the accomplishment of the various objects set forth above and thatvarious changes in the construction herein disclosed may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. In closure means for filling openings having an upstanding flange, aninternally threaded ring adapted to be secured to the flange, a flangeprojecting` inwardly on the inside of the ring at a point remote fromits upper edge, a gasket resting against said second mentioned flange, acap pivoted externally ol the ring and provided on its inner face withan inwardly projecting closure member for the gasket, said memberadapted to seat tightly against the gasket to substan-` tiallypreventpassage of fluid outwardly between the gasket and its closure member.

2. In closure means for filling openings having an upstanding flange, aninternally threaded ring adapted to be secured to the flange,-a flangeprojecting inwardly on the inside of the ring at a point remote from itsupper edge, a gasket resting against said second mentioned flange, a cappivoted externally of the ring and provided on its inner stantiallyprevent passage of fluid outwardlv between the gasket and its closureniember, sait gasket closure member being provided with air ventopenings to permit ventinner face thereof adjacent the liange, a gasketwithin the ring and seated in said depression, and a resilientlyactuated cap pivot-ed onv said ring and provided on its inner face witha protuberanceadapted to rest against the gasket and substantiallyprevent passage of fluid through the opening in the gasket and outwardly.beyond the'same.

d. In a closure means for filling openings, a ring having an inwardlyextending flange adjacent its lower portion, said ring having aninternal depression extending around the inner face thereof adjacent theiange, a gasket within the ring and seated in said depression, and aresiliently actuated cap pivoted on said ring and provided on its innerface with a protuberance adapted to rest against the gasketand'substantially prevent passage of fluid through the opening in thegasket and outwardly beyond the same, said protuberance having apassageway therethrough, one end of which opens uponrthe inner face ofthe protuberance and the other end of which opens adjacent the underface of the cap. j

5. In a closure means for fillinU openings, a ring having anyinwa'rdlyextent ing flange adjacent its lower portion, said ring having aninternal depression extending around the inner face thereof adjacent theflange, a gasket within the ring and seated in said depression, and aresiliently actuated cap pivoted on said ring and provided on its innerface with a protuberance adapted to rest against the gasket andsubstantially prevent passage of fluid through the opening in the gasketand outwardly beyond the same, said protuberance having a passagewaytherethrough, one end of which opens vupon the inner 'face of theprotuberance and the other end of which opens adjacent the underface ofthe cap, said cap having la depending flange surrounding and spacedlfrom the protuberance.

6. In closure means for filling openings of gasoline tanks and similarstructures, a ringV adapted to be secured to the tank, an inwardlyprojecting flange in the ring remotely positioned from that end of thering which is directed away from the tank, a cap pivoted externally ofthe ring projecting inwardly toward, and adapted to press against saidflange, and a gasket between the liange and cap whereby to substantiallyprevent passage ot fluid outwardly between the flange and cap. Y Y Y 7.In closure means for 'filling openings of gasoline tanks and similarstructures, a ring adapted to'be securedV to the tank, an inwardlyprojecting langein the ring remotely positioned from that end of thering which is directed away from the tank, a cap pivoted externally ofthe ring projecting inwardly toward, and adapted to press against saidflange, and a gasket between Vthe flange and cap whereby tosubstantially prevent passage of fluid outwardly between the flange andcap, said cap having an opening Y from the inner face thereof to itsoreulnfer- 10 ential face in the Vicinity of the outer end of the ring.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

JAMES W. GRAY.

